Dianthus plant named ‘Kiss and Tell’

ABSTRACT

A new and unique plant cultivar of perennial carnation or pinks, Dianthus plant named ‘Kiss and Tell’ with numerous, medium-sized, semi-double, lightly-sweet, spicy, fragrant flowers producing a rounded semi-spherical face. The numerous stems cover top to bottom of clump on well-branched stems having up to 3 flowers per stem. Petals have small serrations in the margin and are colored faint pink with a broad dark-red band near the base of the petal limb. The habit is compact with dense blue-green foliage.

Botanical denomination: Dianthus hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘Kiss and Tell’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES UNDER 37 CFR 1.77(b)(6)

The first non-enabling disclosure of the claimed plant was made byWalters Gardens, Inc. on Feb. 1, 2019 in the form of a website briefdescription and photograph, followed by a short description andphotograph in the “Walters Gardens 19-20 Catalog” by Walters Gardens,Inc. The first sales of the claimed plant was on Jul. 8, 2019 by WaltersGardens, Inc. Walters Gardens, Inc. obtained the new plant andinformation about the new plant directly from the inventor. No plants ofDianthus ‘Kiss and Tell’ have been sold, in this country or anywhere inthe world, nor has any disclosure of the new plant been made, more thanone year prior to the filing date of this application, and such sale ordisclosure within one year was either derived directly or indirectlyfrom the inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the new and distinct cultivar ofcarnation or pinks from the genus Dianthus and given the cultivar name‘Kiss and Tell’. The new plant was the result of an intentional cross onNov. 19, 2014 under the direction of the inventor between the unnamed,proprietary hybrid known by the breeder code 12-351-2 as the female orseed parent and the unnamed, proprietary hybrid known by the breedercode 12-251-1 as the male or pollen parent. The cross was harvested inFebruary and sown in the spring of 2015. The new hybrid was firstselected from trials at a wholesale perennial nursery in Zeeland, Mich.during the summer of 2015 as a single seedling clone and given thebreeder code number 14-49-1 later in the evaluation processes. Dianthus‘Kiss and Tell’ has been asexually propagated at the same nursery inZeeland, Mich. since 2016 using traditional shoot tip cutting proceduresand later sterile shoot-tip tissue culture and found to reproduce plantsthat are identical and exhibit all the characteristics of the originalplant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Dianthus ‘Kiss and Tell’ has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment including: growing temperature, available sunlight,nutrients, water, etc. without a change in the genotype of the plant.

Plants nor photographs of the two parents were not maintained socomparison is not possible. The new plant can be compared with the greatgrandparents: ‘Double North’ (not patented), ‘Coconut Punch’ U.S. PlantPat. No. 21,876. ‘Double North’ has fragrant, double, white flowers withno reddish bar, the stem strength is not as strong and rigid and thepetals are more deeply toothed in the apex than the new plant. Theflower of ‘Coconut Punch’ has a slightly thinner dark red band near thebase of the limb, but also has a dark red margin and slightly morepetals per flower. The distal portion of the ‘Coconut Punch’ flower isalso whiter. The new plant can also be compared with ‘AppleblossomBurst’ U.S. Plant Pat. No.31,454. ‘Appleblossom Burst’ has a greatercolor change in the flowers starting light pink and becoming faint pinkin the distal portion, and the petal limb base has a much narrower andlight red band.

Dianthus ‘Kiss and Tell’ is distinct from all other Dianthus known tothe applicant in the following combined traits:

-   -   1. Semi-double flowers opening up with a rounded semi-spherical        face.    -   2. Petals open a faint pink with a broad darker red bar in the        bottom half of the petal limb.    -   3. Distal petal color lightens with age to near white;    -   4. Petal margin finely irregularly toothed;    -   5. Multiple flowers per stiff, upright peduncle;    -   6. Medium flower size producing a lightly-sweet spicy fragrance;    -   7. Compact habit and dense blue-green foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The photographs of ‘Kiss and Tell’ are of a two-year-old plant grown infull-sun trial garden in Zeeland, Mich. showing the overall appearanceof the plant including the unique traits. The colors are as accurate asreasonably possible with color reproductions. Some slight variation ofcolor may occur as a result of lighting quality, intensity, wavelength,direction or reflection.

FIG. 1 shows the habit of the plant in mid-season flowering.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the flowers and bud.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description of the new plant is based onobservations of two-year-old plants in a partially shaded greenhouse andalso full-sun trial garden at a nursery in Zeeland, Mich. withsupplemental watering, light additions of fertilizer and free of otherplant growth regulators. All color usage is in accordance with the 2015edition of The Royal Horticultural Colour Chart except where commondictionary terms are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus hybrid;-   Parentage: The female or seed parent is 12-351-02; the male or    pollen parent is 12-251-1;-   Plant habit: Caespitose, herbaceous, evergreen, winter-hardy    perennial; stems and peduncles highly branched, mostly erect stems;    height of foliage about 15.0 cm and about 52.0 cm across; height in    flower is about 26.0 cm;    -   -   Root system.—Fine, fibrous; color nearest RHS 155D.        -   Vigor.—Good, spring planted plugs finish in 3.8 liter pots            in seven to eight weeks.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf type.—Simple, linear, opposite, decussate, sessile,            glabrous, glaucous both adaxial and abaxial; margin entire            to microscopically serrulate; acute narrowly apex; base            truncate, decurrent, clasping; no fragrance detected.        -   Leaf dimensions.—To about 9.5 cm long and about 6.0 mm wide,            average about 7.2 cm long and 4.5 mm wide.        -   Leaf color.—Young expanding leaves adaxial and abaxial            nearest RHS 139C; mature adaxial and abaxial blend between            RHS N138B and RHS N138A.        -   Venation.—Not pronounced; obscurely pinnate, coloration same            as that of leaf top and bottom.-   Stems: About 92 per plant; upright; cylindrical, glabrous, glaucous;    hollow; branching in upper nodes;    -   -   Stem size.—Hollow; terete; about 21.0 cm long to peduncle            and about 3.0 mm wide at base.        -   Stem color.—Blend between RHS 189A, RHS 189B and RHS 122A.        -   Branching.—Numerous; typically alternate from lower nodes;            about 5 per main stem and about 200 per plant; branch size            average about 3.5 cm long and 1.0 mm diameter at time of            initial flowering.        -   Nodes.—Slightly swollen; about nine per stem; about 3.5 mm            across; color nearest RHS 142D.        -   Internodes.—About 9 per stem before peduncle; average about            2.3 cm apart depending on growing temperature, shorter in            cooler conditions.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Terminal, cymose; perfect; salverform; actinomophic;            semi-double.        -   Attitude.—Upright to slightly outward around perimeter of            plant.        -   Dimension.—About 4.0 cm across and extending about 3.2 cm            above base of calyx tube and 8.0 mm wide at apex of calyx.        -   Flowers per stem.—Up to 3, average 2.        -   Pedicel.—Glaucous, glabrous, cylindrical, stiff; primarily            upright.        -   Pedicel size.—Terminal flower to about 5.5 mm long and about            2.5 mm diameter; other flowers average about 2.0 mm long and            1.0 mm diameter.        -   Pedicel color.—Blend between RHS 189A, RHS 189B and RHS            122A.        -   Flower bud.—Cylindrical; glabrous; glaucous; attenuate base            and truncate flat apex; about 31.0 mm long and 8.0 mm across            at distal fusion point of sepals.        -   Flower bud color.—Exposed petals between RHS 73B and RHS            70D, calyx distally nearest RHS 138A and proximally nearest            RHS N144D.        -   Flower period.—Beginning late spring and continuing for            about three weeks.        -   Flower fragrance.—Light, sweet spicy, clove-like.        -   Flower lasting quality.—Individually about seven to ten days            on or cut from plant.        -   Petals.—Glabrous except adaxial base of blade            micro-puberulent; up to about 21 per flower, average about            18.3; consisting of a rounded blade or limb and a claw; limb            and claw combined are flabellate; limb apex rounded and            margin irregularly crenate to dentate with indentations            about 1.0 mm deep and average 2.0 mm wide; limb bent            outwardly in distal 20.0 mm to nearly a ninety degree angle            creating a flat rounded face; with single dark red band            about 10 mm long at base of blade; persistent.        -   Petal dimensions.—Limb to about 20.0 mm across, average            about 17.0 mm across; claw about 18 mm long, tapering to            attenuate base of about 1.0 mm across; whole petal to about            38.0 mm long, average about 30.5 mm long.        -   Petal color.—Young adaxial claw nearest RHS 145B, adaxial            limb base nearest RHS 71A and distal 10 mm lighter than RHS            N66D; young abaxial claw nearest RHS 145B, young abaxial            limb base nearest RHS 76D, distal blade lighter than RHS            N66D; mature adaxial claw nearest RHS 145D, mature adaxial            limb basal 10 mm between RHS 70A and RHS N79C and distal            limb nearest RHS 69B, mature abaxial claw nearest RHS 145D,            mature abaxial limb base nearest RHS 155B with undertone of            between RHS 70A and RHS N79C, distally nearest RHS 69B.        -   Calyx.—Terete to campanulate; to about 22.0 mm long and 8.0            mm diameter at apex.        -   Sepals.—Five; lanceolate; acute apex and fused in basal 17.0            mm forming five-toothed calyx tube; glabrous; glaucous            abaxial; margins entire to micro-ciliolate.        -   Sepal size.—Individually about 22.0 mm long and about 5.0 mm            across at distal fusion.        -   Sepal color.—Adaxial 0.5 mm wide margin translucent to            nearest RHS 158D, distally nearest RHS 138B, proximally            nearest RHS 145C; abaxial distally nearest RHS 138A with 0.5            mm wide translucent margin nearest RHS 158D, proximally            nearest RHS N144D.        -   Peduncle.—Glabrous; glaucous; hollow, cylindrical; stiff;            about 7.0 cm long and about 2.5 mm diameter at base;            attitude mostly upright.        -   Peduncle color.—Blend between RHS 189A, RHS 189B and RHS            122A.        -   Epicalyx.—Two pairs subtending each flower; opposite,            glaucous, glabrous; sessile, margin entire; outer pair            oblanceolate with narrowly acute apex and truncate base,            about 18.0 mm long and 6.0 mm wide, adaxial and abaxial            color blend between RHS N138B and RHS N138A with 0.5 mm wide            translucent margin in proximal one-third of nearest RHS            158C; inner pair deltoid with acute apex and truncate base,            about 14.0 mm long and 10.0 mm across, color adaxial and            abaxial distal one-third nearest RHS 139A, adaxial proximal            two-thirds nearest RHS 146D and abaxial proximal two-thirds            nearest RHS 144A, adaxial and abaxial translucent margin of            about 1.5 mm wide in proximal one-half and about 0.5 mm wide            in distal one-half nearest RHS 158C.        -   Androecium.—Typically ten; not fully developed.        -   Filaments.—Applanate along ovary; straight; to about 17.0 mm            long and 0.5 mm diameter; color nearest RHS NN155A. Anther:            rudimentary; basifixed; about 2.0 mm long and 0.7 mm wide            and 0.2 mm thick; color nearest RHS NN155A. Pollen: not            observed.        -   Gynoecium.—Single; to about 30.0 mm long. Style: bifurcate            just above ovary; to 18.0 mm long naturally and arcuate 360°            in distal 8.0 mm; color nearest RHS NN155B. Stigma: slightly            flattened abaxial to adaxial; pubescent on adaxial surface            distally; about 15.0 mm long and 1.0 mm wide; color nearest            RHS N155D. Ovary: superior; oblong ellipsoidal to            spindle-shaped with rounded apex and base; about 12.0 mm            long and 5.0 mm wide in middle; color distally nearest RHS            146D, proximally between RHS 145C and RHS 145D.-   Fruit and seed: Not observed;-   Disease resistance: The new plant is resistance to center die out    from fungus or high temperatures. The plant grows best with adequate    moisture and well-drained soil, but is able to tolerate some drought    once established. Hardiness at least from USDA zone 4 through zone    9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dianthus plant named ‘Kiss andTell’ essentially as herein described and illustrated.